A Captive Audience

For a few minutes now, the patch of sky framed by the window has been getting brighter, purple steadily giving way to cerulean, then a grey cyan, then taking on a color that can only be described as bright as the sun peeks over the sill. Except for the impending threat of being blinded, I wouldn’t even take notice of it. I have something much more important to watch: Twilight’s side, rising and falling slowly; a few locks of her mane draped over her neck, including the better part of her rose stripe; her ear twitching every so often in the most distracting way. For a moment, I can feel a ray of sunlight warmly caressing my ear. When the sun finally makes its way down my forehead and shines directly in my eyes, I give Twilight a squeeze as I shove my head into her pillow, letting her mane fall onto my face to protect me from the vicious light.

Twilight lifts her head and starts turning over. “Muh -- Trixie?”

I press down on her and muster my most pitiful voice. “Noooo -- don’t turn around; just stay there.”

A little laugh shakes its way out of her as she puts her hoof on mine. “You can’t be feeling shy, especially after last night. I thought you wanted to hear all of my dirty little fantasies!”

I push my face deeper into her mane and point at the window. “No, I just need you to protect me from that evil sun. Please?”

She gingerly lifts my foreleg and, against my protests, turns over. The sun flashes in my eyes for a second, and then she pulls my head into the crook of her neck, resting her jaw on my horn. “There, now it can’t get you; better?”

For her trouble, I give Twilight a nuzzle and an appreciative groan. It’s the least I can do.

As I close my eyes and breathe in her scent, she brings out her come-hither voice again. In our short time together, she’s gotten a lot better at it: I don’t laugh any more; instead, I feel the sudden urge to rub my flanks together and find somewhere private. Well, she has been learning from the best. “So, where did we leave off last night? If I recall correctly, you were threatening to tickle my last, biggest fantasy out of me. Want to keep going?”

This time, the groan isn’t quite as positive. “Can we just skip the tickling? The Great and Powerful Trixie woke up early to watch you sleep, and now she needs some beauty sleep of her own.”

“That’s both adorable and kind of creepy. But...” She trails off and inches her head back. “Well, I stayed up late to watch you sleeping, so -- I guess we’re even on that.”

A smile forces its way onto my lips. “Then am I as beautiful by moonlight as you are by daylight?”

She presses against me. “Much more, I’m sure. I’m always such a mess when I wake up.”

I can’t let Twilight think that, even if it is a little true. What can I do but grunt softly and press my lips against her throat for a little kissing and murmuring? “Impossible! You’ve been granted the honor of sleeping beside the Great and Powerful Trixie. Anypony with that level of prestige must be beautiful, even first thing in the morning.”

“So I have to be beautiful for you?”

What!? I wiggle my horn out from under Twilight and look up at her, my cheeks and eyes tight with panic. “No! That’s not what I meant! I just meant that you’re...”

“Shh” Twilight whispers as she kisses my muzzle. “I know what you meant. I was just playing.”

Hmph. I lower my head, turn away from her, and cross my forelegs. Twilight will know my displeasure. “Well it wasn’t funny.”

Her breath hits my ear before her low, certain voice. “Have I been a bad pony?”

I close my eyes and smile. “Clever, but Trixie is not so easily baited. I’ve been drawing crowds since before I spoke my first words. I know about getting a reaction out of a pony.”

Her lips get closer, making my ear hot and wet and slightly uncomfortable. “What if I say that, in the moonlight, your mane is like a river of the softest, smoothest silver? What if I say that the only reason I didn’t kiss you while you were sleeping you was because you were so perfectly adorable? What if I say that I know every ridge of your horn, the curvature of your chest, the swell of your flanks, the way your tail falls, delicately veiling your --”

With every word, my cheeks get hotter and hotter. Finally, I have to roll over and press a hoof against Twilight’s lips. “T-Twilight! While all of Trixie’s fantastic and awe-inspiring features are undoubtedly worthy of admiration, do you,” I cough and pause for a second. What am I thinking, protesting such well-deserved praise of my obvious beauty? “I mean, I didn’t think you’d be one to put it so -- poetically -- not that I mind. Have you been reading Lord Byrein or something?”

“No. I tried once, but he was so flowery.” She grins and sticks her tongue out for a second, then the small, quiet smile I’ve come to love takes her face over again. She rests her forehead against mine and whispers, “Maybe I just couldn’t understand it until I felt it myself. Also,” she hesitates and drapes a foreleg over me, “I’m sorry about being so pushy, it’s just -- after doing so much with you, telling you about my fantasies, just thinking about telling you my last one makes me so -- hot. I want you, and knowing that you want me, want to know about that part of me...” She shivers against me with a little coo. “Do you know what I mean? How good it feels to feel wanted like that?”

How good it feels to feel wanted like that. The words make my heart flutter. My breath catches before I can say, “Yes, Trixie knows it: the glory of the stage; the fascination of the crowd; being the center of everypony’s world.” I give Twilight a pointed look and kiss her cheek. “Being the center of one very special pony’s world.”

Twilight sighs, her closed eyes and drooping lips disappointing and tired. After a second, she smiles and wiggles down to rest her head on my chest. “That too, but I meant... If I told Fluttershy some of the things I wanted you to do, she’d probably faint. Rarity and Rainbow and Applejack would think I was crazy. Pinkie Pie -- I don’t even know what Pinkie would think.” She sighs again and runs a hoof along my belly at a deliciously slow pace. “But you -- you listen to my crazy fantasies, and you don’t even do it to be nice or friendly, you want to hear them -- you want to be a part of them! You want to get into the deepest parts of me -- the things I wouldn’t show anypony -- and I love that.”

I stroke Twilight’s mane and murmur, “Only an ignorant foal wouldn’t want that. I mean, isn’t that what this kind of relationship is about? Being the audience at another pony’s personal stage? Seeing how all of their inner workings play out? And with you, who wouldn’t want to?”

She giggles and gently jabs my chest. “Hey, my friends aren’t ignorant -- at least, not that ignorant!” With a grin, she locks her eyes to mine, playful defensiveness draining away to let something more tender in. “It has to be more than that,” she whispers, putting her lips to my coat, “I mean, if this is a play, then we both have leading roles. In fact,” she starts, looking up at me with accusing eyes,”You haven’t told me about what you want.” She starts kissing my belly, wriggling lower and lower. “Tell me, Trixie. Come on, tell Twilight your darkest fantasies.”

I smile down at her. “Looking for a little role-reversal, Sparkle?”

“No, but I do want to hear about your inner thoughts, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes.” With a little grin, Twilight puts a hoof on the inside of my flank and pushes gently.

I give in and roll onto my back, exposing myself to her; at this point, I don’t think I’ll be getting back to sleep any time soon. “Just be gentle; Trixie doesn’t feel like getting wild right now.”

Twilight hops off the foot of the bed and then jumps back up, putting her forelegs between my thighs. It’s too early for her to be so energetic. “Don’t worry, I’ll take it nice and slow; I want to savor this.” She moves her muzzle forward slowly, putting her lips to my marehood, audibly sniffing it. “So, how do I get you wet? Tell me what gets you going.”

Twilight sniffing me makes me look away and blush and tense my thighs a little. For some reason, I feel more like hiding my face in my forelegs than talking dirty to her. I guess I don’t feel like putting on a show right now. Maybe I should try a little humor? “Well -- Trixie has always dreamed of sleeping with herself; after all, Trixie is the sexiest pony in all of Equestria. Two of me, getting all hot and sweaty together -- imagine how amazing that would be!”

I hear the quiet tinkle of Twilight’s magic for a second, then silence for a second before feeling her kiss my sex. Once she starts talking though -- at least, I hope it’s her -- my body tightens and I have to throw my head up to look at her. Twilight is staring between my flanks, the same purple coat, the same indigo and rose mane, but a different voice coming from her lips: mine. “Hmm -- Trixie truly is the most beautiful mare in all of Equestria! Just look at this perfect flower, this soft, supple rear. I almost envy the ponies who’ve -- Trixie!” Her eyes bat up for a second, then she raises her face to look at mine before looking to one side, agitated. “The illusion doesn’t work if you look at me! I can’t change how I look!”

It’s actually pretty impressive -- and kind of kinky, but -- it’s a little unsettling. “But -- what about your voice!? Why do you sound like me? I’ve never heard of a spell like that.”

Twilight grins and puffs her chest out. “That’s because I created it! I was actually putting the finishing touches on it when you first came to Ponyville.”

Celestia, that’s too creepy! The words and the rhythm and the emphasis are Twilight’s, but the voice is mine. I look away as I ask, “Well -- could you stop it? It’s kind of weird, hearing -- seeing? -- my voice come out of your mouth.” I look back at her and try an encouraging smile. “Sorry. I know you were doing it for me, but it’s just -- kind of creepy. Also -- that wasn’t really a fantasy I’ve had before, either. I just thought it sounded kind of hot, though I’m not so sure now.”

Twilight lights her horn for a second and her voice is back to normal when she nuzzles my thigh and says, “It’s okay; Spike said the same thing when I was practicing it -- about it being creepy, not the fantasy thing.” She giggles. “That was actually one of the best ways to get him to do his chores if he was feeling lazy. Hearing a little ‘Oh, I hope Twilight doesn’t find me over here slacking off,’ in his own voice would get him going.” She sighs. “It’s a shame he made me agree stop using it.”

“Well, I can understand. Even Trixie’s beautiful and mellifluous voice should only come from one place: here.” I point at my lips.

Twilight flashes a wide grin. “I agree! Well, until you tell me about a real fantasy, I think I’ll just go exploring.” As I watch, she dips her head between my flanks and starts nibbling a teat. She squeezes my nipple hard with her lips, sending a spasm up my leg and a billowing warmth through my belly. After she’s done running her teeth along the mound and pulling so, so softly and insistently, I’m like a dog in the throes of a belly-scratching. I whine when she stops and looks up at me with an smug grin. “Oh ho! Have I found Trixie’s weak spot?”

A leg-twitching moan holds me for a second before I can reply. “I don’t -- Trixie has no weak spots; some pleasure centers are just stronger than others! Besides -- most ponies don’t focus on my teats.”

“I don’t know why,” Twilight says, nuzzling the small rises between my flanks, “They’re so cute.” She presses her lips into the one she ignored earlier. “And soft.” A warm shock hits my skin as Twilight opens her lips and nips the mound, sending a pulse of pain and pleasure up though my hips. As the twinge settles down, Twilight’s tongue, warm and vaguely rough, starts pressing into it, circling the nipple, then running from the peak to the base. My leg twitches in time, and as she keeps licking it, I can’t help but buck a little. She stops and looks up with a deliberate slurp. “And tasty. How is it?”

I can only look at her self-satisfied grin for a few seconds before I have to look away. It’s hard to answer with my breathing all disrupted. “What -- what do you think -- Twilight?”

I can hear the smugness in her voice. “I think that this won’t take you all the way.”

After a second, my cheeks heat up as I realize what she means. “You wouldn’t!”

“I would! You aren’t going to come until you tell me something juicy.” She bites me again softly, forcing a little moan. “You’d better hurry.”

With the waves of pain and pleasure shimmying up my body, making me waste all my breath on moaning, keeping my mind in constant a boiling upheaval, I can’t think. Fantasies? I’ve always -- Celestia, those teeth! She said she’d be gentle -- I’ve always lived out in the open; I don’t keep much inside. There might be one thing. “I’ve -- I’ve always wanted to do it in front of an audience. That’s one thing -- gah! Twilight! Not so hard!”

When she looks up, I give her my best wrathful stare. She comes back with that same smug grin from earlier. After dipping back down for one last, gentle kiss, she says, “That’s so like you! A performer, even in love. So, who would you want to watch us?”

“I don’t know! Although…” I might have an idea, something that Twilight will appreciate. “How about your friends? Rarity and Rainbow and the others?” The way her eyes widen and her face pales is totally worth the suffering I’ve had to endure at her mouth. “What do you think Fluttershy would do if she actually saw us playing out your fantasies? Do you think any of them would get wet? How many fantasies do you think our bold display of unbridled sensuality would inspire? Well, Twilight?”

Now she’s blushing as she stares down at the foot of the bed. “W-well. It would certainly be...”

I chuckle. She’s playing right into my hooves. “I know what you mean, Twilight. All five of them would be overcome, driven to the extremes of lust. My beauty and your enthusiasm would trigger an unparalleled orgy. Why, if any other ponies wandered into the library -- it’d be like a ‘Want-it, Need-it’ spell of sex.”

She giggles with a little grimace and lays her head on my flank, hugging my leg. “I have some experience with that spell. The results were -- unpleasant. That would be even worse.”

I laugh with her. “I know. I tried using it once, when I started performing. It didn’t go well.”

“Oh no!” She’s looking up at me, eyes like plates and mouth wide in a toothy grin. “Princess Celestia had to fix what I did personally; how did you stop it?”

“Simple!” I toss my forelock. “I out-performed it!”

Somehow, her eyes get wider. “But -- that’s impossible! All of Ponyville was fighting over my doll when I cast it!”

The whole town!? Hmph. Mine only affected a crowd of twenty or so. “Maybe that was just your strength -- sweetie. Mine wasn’t quite that powerful, but I was able to distract the crowd with a story. I cast the spell on the gem on my cloak’s clasp. To stop them, I regaled them with the tale of how I stole it from a giant who lived in a volcano.”

Twilight blushes, looks down, and says quietly. “Sweetie?” She looks up and smiles. “Well, it must be some story; do you want to regale me with it?”

“I can later, but for now…” I light my horn and gently pull her head down. “You have some business to take care of."

Without another word, Twilight gets to work. Her tongue slides into the folds of my flower, sending sweet shivers up my spine. When she pushes it inside, a sudden breath becomes a moan. “Now you’re finally -- putting that tongue to good use! Keep going Twilight!” After a moment, something starts tugging on both of my nipples, gently pulsing over my mounds. slowly milking me, despite my feeble protest. The skin on my belly crawls in the best possible way. My legs are quickly becoming waving, wobbling, and totally useless. My breath is galloping and every exhale is a moan.

Twilight doesn’t stop when the door slams downstairs, but my body tenses and I suddenly don't feel like moaning, not that I can quite stop. Twilight’s tongue and the tug of her magic aren’t luxurious waves anymore, but bright, burning distractions.

Twilight still doesn’t stop when Spike cries out, “Twilight! Where are you? Twilight!?”

I can hear another pony’s voice with him, high and reedy. I can barely make out the words over my breathing. “Man, it looks like this place was hit by a hurricane!”

Yet another pony joins them, her voice soft beyond hearing. I manage to make out the last word of her statement: alright.

“Twilight!” I whisper, her continuing ministrations making my voice crack helplessly. When she doesn’t respond, I say louder, “Twilight! Somepony’s downstairs with Spike!”

“Hey, I think I hear something upstairs.” The reedy voice again. The creaking of the bedframe is suddenly no longer just a part of the beautiful things Twilight’s doing to me; it’s a dangerous signal to the ponies downstairs.

Even as the clop of hooves and the patter of Spike’s little claws sound on the stairs outside, Twilight doesn’t stop licking and tugging. Now I’m almost yelling as I back away, “Twilight! Stop! Spike--” As the door starts opening, I light my horn and press against it. Unfortunately, a lick from Twilight and a shove from whoever’s on the other side overcome me and the door slams open.

“Twilight?” The poor little dragon’s voice dies to an uncomprehending whisper, understandably. When I look over, his eyes are fixed on Twilight, his arms are hanging at his sides, limp. Two ponies stand behind him, one with a cyan coat and rainbow mane, the other a yellow coat and pink mane. Thanks to all of Twilight’s chatter, I have little doubt as to who they are.

“S-Spike! Come here, poor baby!” Fluttershy says after a second of silence, rushing forward and pulling Spike onto the stairs, safely out of the room. At least he won’t be here for whatever happens next.

Rainbow Dash takes a step forward, her brows lowered and her jaw slack as she asks, “What. The. Hay?” When she finally realizes what’s happening, her wings fly open to stand behind her like a war banner. She looks back and says quietly, “Fluttershy, take Spike outside.” She turns back to Twilight and me and yells, “Trixie! What the hay did you do to Twilight!? I swear, if you hurt her, I’ll make all that stuff you did with the amulet look like the very definition of love and kindness!”

“It’s not like that!” I shout. As Rainbow Dash takes a step forward, I turn away from the door and clamp my thighs closed. Looking over my withers, first at Twilight, then at Rainbow Dash, I say, “Twilight! Help! Please!?”

As I pull away, Twilight looks up at me, her face empty and confused. When she turns to Rainbow Dash, the look sticks -- for a second. After that, she sucks in a breath and jumps behind the bed, looking like she’s just stepped off of the highest cliff in Equestria. With just her eyes above the level of the sheets, she half-shouts, “Rainbow!? What are you doing in my house!? Can’t you see that I’m kind of -- busy?”

“Busy!?” Rainbow Dash’s eyes narrow and her frown deepens as she glares at me. She turns to Twilight. “What do you mean, busy!? Twilight, what’s up with all this? You aren’t, like, sleeping with this sleaze -- are you? Like, of your own free will?”

Sleaze!? Moi?

“What? How dare you!” Twilight stands and walks around the bed, her hooves striking the wood floor vindictively. “Trixie’s my marefriend!” For a second, she falters and looks down. When she continues, her voice is a little less forceful. “I know she’s done some bad things in the past -- and that she’s not the most honest or thoughtful pony -- but that doesn’t make her a -- a sleaze!” What? What does that mean? Does she believe in me, or not? Even with how tense the situation is, I’m a little scared of the answer.

Rainbow Dash takes a step forward and folds her wings to her sides. “Twilight…” She says quietly. Her jaw tenses as she looks at me and lets out a breath. She turns back to Twilight, puts a hoof on her shoulder, and whispers, probably thinking she’s avoiding my keen hearing, “Listen, Twilight, I don’t know what’s going on, but getting mixed up with her just can’t be a good idea. I mean, all she does is lie, she only cares about herself, and she hates you, just for being better at magic! She had to have obsessed over you for like two years, just to get that amulet! It has to be some kind of trick; she’s just trying to get close to you so she can stab you in the back!”

Twilight leans forward and puts a foreleg around Rainbow Dash’s neck, pulling her into an embrace. “Listen, Rainbow, I’m glad you’re concerned, but I called her here, and she’s had plenty of chances to hurt me, if she wanted to. Trixie’s a different pony; she’s grown a lot since she was here last, and I want to be there with her as she keeps growing.”

Rainbow Dash steps back, her face twisted into a lemony grimace. “‘She’s grown a lot since she was last here?’ Twilight, it’s only been like six months since she kicked you out using her cheater magic, put Ponyville in some kind of fishbowl, and made everypony in town her slave! How can you defend her after that!? I mean, how much can a pony really change over a season or two?”

Twilight looks back at me, eyes somewhere between a smile and a glower. “But -- she said she was sorry -- she helped fix everything she did -- she learned from the whole thing with the amulet…”

Rainbow Dash snorts. “I bet she did; she learned she’ll never beat you at magic, even with that stupid amulet, so she found another way: through your heart.”

As heartwarming as Twilight’s attempts at defending me are, they’re feeble and only feeding Rainbow Dash’s doubt; Twilight’s no spokespony and it shows. Still -- that last line. I can’t stop the laughter from getting out of me. Both of them look at me, Rainbow Dash with dull annoyance and Twilight with something like fear. “Hee hee… Sorry, it’s just -- that line’s like something out of a bad drama. Trixie would have expected something cooler from you, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash steps forward past Twilight and growls, “Oh yeah? What’s that supposed to mean?”

It’s -- hard. I want to keep going, rile up this stupid, feeble-minded blue pony and put her in her place, but -- I guess her place isn’t that far below mine. Instead of replying, I roll off the bed and walk to Twilight’s side. Rainbow Dash’s eyes follow me the whole way. “I mean that it sounded corny in the most hilarious way, but -- that’s okay. You’re one of Twilight’s friends -- one of her best friends, which means -- you’re a great pony, probably as great as the Great and Powerful Trixie.” Beside me, I hear Twilight take a breath. Rainbow Dash stares without saying anything, eyes narrowed. Her stunned silence gives me the opening I need. “And -- and you’re both right. What I did was horrible, and I do have trouble telling the truth, and thinking of other ponies, but I’ve gotten better.”

I hold Rainbow Dash’s gaze, letting my lips clench and thinking of the time I was playing with my dad’s big, jewel-adorned top hat and tore it, losing a bunch of the gems. I can still remember the way his eyes tightened, the way he sighed before saying it was okay; it wasn’t. We could barely afford to keep the wagon rolling, much less buy a new hat or more gems. It’s just enough to make my eyes water. “I mean -- I’m the same pony; I still need to perform, to look good in front of a crowd, but I don’t humiliate ponies to do it any more; I know how awful that feels. Now, I do light shows, animated stories, amaze them my powers of prestidigitation, I even teach the foals magic tricks. And -- I’m no princess, but I try to make sure my show leaves the places I perform a little better than they were before.” Here, I finally let my flushing cheeks overcome me and look to the floor. A few tears fall. I’m not sure if it’s the memory, or -- how true it all is. “I just want to say that I’m sorry for all the horrible things I did. I hurt you and Twilight and everypony else, and -- there was no reason for it. Getting my revenge -- hurting you ponies -- didn’t make me happier -- not really, but helping the ponies I’ve met has. So -- can you forgive me? Can you give me a chance to prove that I’ve become a better pony?”

Rainbow Dash squints at me and hmms. “I don’t know, you seemed pretty happy at the time. Twilight, do you really buy this? I sure don’t.”

Twilight covers her face with a hoof and shakes her head. “Rainbow! We all make mistakes! That’s how we learn where we’re deficient.”

In response, Rainbow Dash nibbles her lip for a second and mouths, “De-defish -- ent?” Apparently giving up on that the same way she must have on vocabulary, she shakes her head and looks at Twilight. “Well, I don’t! Didn’t? I stand by my friends; I always have and I always will!”

I like the way Twilight rolls her eyes; few things feel as good as having a pony think you’re more right than another pony. “Like you’ve never learned a valuable lesson by making a mistake.”

“Well, yeah.” Rainbow Dash starts, inspecting her hoof with a grin, “I mean, name one time.”

In a wry voice, Twilight says, “The Running of the Leaves.”

Rainbow Dash looks down and scuffs her hoof along the floor. “Well, that’s one, but…”

“Mare-Do-Well,” Twilight cuts in.

“Alright, alright, I get it! Nopony’s perfect.” Rainbow Dash looks at me with a frown. “I’ll forgive you -- but don’t think I trust you. And you,” She pokes Twilight in the chest, “I want you to keep an eye on her and make sure she isn’t up to anything. I can understand if you like her, I guess, but after what she did, I just can’t trust her. I don’t want you or anypony else getting hurt.”

“Don’t worry Rainbow, everything will be fine. I’ll stick to her like glue.” The warmth and joy in Twilight’s voice -- I envy it. How can she be so happy after all of this? I mean, her -- her friend is trying to pit her to against me, her marefriend, and she’s as chipper as ever.

Rainbow Dash grimaces. “Eww -- Twilight! Watch the wordplay! It’s going to be hard enough to forget you muzzle-deep in this -- er-Trixie’s thighs without you reminding me.” This? This what? I bet she’s glad she realized how bad an idea it would have been to keep going.

Twilight rolls her eyes again. “Well I’m not sorry! You were the one who invaded my house, remember? Why do you think the door was locked? In fact, how did you get in!?”

Now it’s this stupid blue filly’s turn to look down blushing. “We -- uh, I -- might have kicked the door in.”

“What!?” Twilight is livid, her eyes crunched into dangerous slits, her lips a hard line. She hardly seems like the pony I’ve passed so many wonderful hours with. “The door was there for a reason! The lock was there for a reason! Why in Equestria would you break my door down!?”

Rainbow Dash brings her eyes back up and throws her hooves in the air. “‘Cause nopony’s heard from you in like a week, Twilight, and we were worried about you!”

Twilight’s angry face is snuffed in an instant, leaving only wide eyes and timid lips. “What? A-a week?”

Rainbow Dash keeps on, almost yelling at my Twilight. “Yeah, Spike’s been locked outside and he didn’t know where you were or what was up. He’s been staying with Fluttershy and coming over here every day to try and find out where you were. Since he knew Trixie got in a few nights ago, he got worried, so then he came and got me, and I wasn’t about to let some crazy, jealous showboat hurt my friend, even if it meant I had to force my way in!” She looks down again, her anger doused just as quickly and completely as Twilight’s. “I mean -- I never thought you two would be doing -- this.” After a long, awkward pause that has us all trading little frowns and worried glances, she ventures, “I’ll, uh -- I can help fix it.”

“Alright,” Twilight says, voice like a popped balloon, “Thanks.” She meets my eyes and the need and confusion there… For a second it’s like I’m looking down all the roads I’ve ever travelled, through all the dark, looming pines, across all the soft, endless plains, up all the cold, raw mountains. We’re between here and there and neither of us know where we are, or where we’re going. When she turns back to Rainbow Dash, the feeling disappears, knocking my head off balance. “I -- I didn’t realize… I didn’t think about it. I’ve been having so much fun with Trixie, I just didn’t… I’m sorry Rainbow. Was everyone else worried too?”

Rainbow Dash drags her hoof across the floor again. “Well, everypony’s been pretty busy, and you do kind of hole yourself up in here sometimes, but after Spike told us about Trixie, yeah, definitely.”

Finally, a little color creeps into Twilight’s voice as she quietly asks, “After?” She sighs and looks from Rainbow Dash to me. She lets out the fakest laugh I’ve ever heard and gives me a nervous smile. “Well -- it’s not like we can just stay in here forever. Why don’t we head over to Sugarcube Corner and see who’s around? Huh, girls?”

In contrast, Rainbow Dash seems to regain her poise, or what passes for it, almost immediately. “Yeah! I could go for some cake, y’know, after all that action.”

Twilight gives Rainbow Dash a wan smile. “Heh, yeah. Would -- would you mind waiting outside for a second, Rainbow? I’d like to talk to Trixie alone.”

Rainbow Dash stares at Twilight for a second, then slowly turns away, her wingtips slanting up, away from her flanks. She’s a little quieter when she speaks into the library downstairs, “Sure, Twi -- just don’t take too long, alright? I’ll be waiting.”

As I listen to the clop of Rainbow Dash’s hooves recede down the stairs, Twilight steps over to me and puts a hoof on my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Suddenly, my legs are shaking -- at least, I think it’s suddenly. The way she’s looking at me makes it hard to think. Her eyes are so strong and relaxed, her smile so soft, that I could just fall into her. It’s like I’m a little filly standing on her doorstep, soaking wet from the rain. I can barely speak. “O-of course. Why wouldn’t I be -- okay? Whatever would you think is wrong with Trixie?”

Twilight steps forward and hooks a foreleg around my neck and pulls me into her, my chest against hers. I swear I can feel her heart in her throat, like a nervous little bird. “It’s just -- Rainbow wasn’t exactly kind. I mean, it’s not really her thing, but still -- she was so mean. You’re not a sleaze, Trixie, and you’ve made up for what you did.” She pulls me closer and nuzzles my ear and whispers. “Trust me. You’re a good pony, a Grrreat and Powerful one, even.” That little roll on the r -- I barely manage to choke back a sob.

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, I step back. “Twilight -- can I have a second alone? You know, to make sure I’m ready.”

“Ready for what? We’re just going to Sugarcube Corner.”

I just can’t look at that smiling face. I need to get away for a minute, just practice a few tricks to calm my nerves. “Ready for whoever might be there; for -- for your friends.”

Twilight gives me a little kiss on the nose. “Don’t worry; I’ll be right there with you. Just give them a little time -- once they see that you’ve changed -- once they get to know you, we can all be friends.”

“It’s not that, I just -- I need a minute to pull myself together; I can’t let your friends see me like this.”

Twilight flashes a grin. It’s like -- is she trying to mock me? It can’t be; Twilight wouldn’t do that. “What do you mean? You look great, as usual. If anything, I’m the one who needs a minute to brush out my mane.”

For a second, all I can do is stare at her. I don’t need to brush my mane! I need to make sure I’m not going to snap at all of her idiot friends and -- and just make things worse. Her grin sours when I look down, face quivering, silent for a few seconds. I manage to look up and get my mouth working just as she starts opening hers. “Twilight -- it’s not that! It’s just -- I’m -- I’m afraid.”

This time, she doesn’t grin. Quietly, she asks, “What of?”

“I’m afraid that…” I have to pause and push out a deliberate breath. “I’m afraid that I’ll --

“Hey, Twilight!” Rainbow Dash calls from downstairs, “What’s taking so long? Do I need to come back up there?”

Twilight rubs her face with a hoof. “Ugh. She’s so impatient.” She turns to the door and shouts, “We’ll be down in just a minute Rainbow!”

As Twilight turns away, I just keep mouthing I’ll I’ll I’ll I’ll… I can’t help it. I let my head droop. What was I thinking, telling Twilight I’m afraid of her friends!? That’s impossible. The Great and Powerful Trixie can’t be afraid of something like meeting her marefriend’s friends -- even if they do hate her -- with reason -- and want to keep her away from Twilight -- and probably Ponyville -- forever.

“Trixie!” My head snaps back up to find Twilight staring at me, frowning.

I mumble, “W-what?”

That little smile again. Celestia, I love that! “I just asked what you were saying; what you were -- afraid of.”

“Well…” I can’t look at her. “Trixie said afraid, but she really just meant nervous. I mean, why would someone as charming as Trixie be afraid of meeting anypony, especially with a pony like you to back her up? That would be like being afraid to go out on stage.”

“Are you sure? I can understand some trepidation, given everything that -- happened.”

I give her my winningest grin. “Yes, Trixie is sure. Now, we can head to Sugarcube Corner and you can get me some cupcakes to make up for not taking me all the way.”

With a matching grin, Twilight punches my shoulder. “That’s not fair! We were interrupted! And besides, you barely told me anything.”

“Au contraire,” I murmur as I slowly spin around, holding Twilight’s gaze over my withers. “Sometimes what you hide,” I leave a little pause and, for just a second, flick my tail up and spread my hind legs, presenting myself to Twilight. As I turn back to her, I finish, “Is just as important as what you show. When we get there, just look at Rarity, or Pinkie Pie, or Rainbow Dash and think of them watching us -- imagine the look on their faces as you put your mouth under my tail and make me moan and quiver.” Twilight’s blush is the best; maybe I can get her to feed those cupcakes to me. Err… Though, looking behind Twilight…

“Trixie!” Rainbow Dash shouts from the doorway, “Come on! I don’t need you flashing me! I just want to go to Sugarcube Corner and try to forget the things I’ve seen today.”

Twilight squeaks and spins around, her tail clamped between her legs. I think my own tail is doing the same.

Rainbow Dash grins as she turns to the stairs. “Come on, you horndogs, I’m not going to leave you two alone in here again! And Twilight,” her voice drops to a bare minimum of mirth, “You need to apologize to Spike. and -- and talk to him about all this. You’re supposed to take care of him! He counts on you and you need to be there for him, understand?”

Twilight looks back at me with an apprehensive smirk before filing out behind Rainbow Dash, quietly saying, “You’re right, Rainbow. What -- what do I say? Do you think I have time to read something? Maybe just a pamphlet?” Well, I guess I’d better follow.

“No. Maybe. I don’t know! Just tell him that you like Trixie or whatever and that, you know, she might be around, and you girls might need some alone time, whatever that might mean to him.”

“But -- but -- should a baby dragon know about something like that? I mean, he’s so small and young and innocent… What will that do to him? I need a dragon parenting book! When would a dragon teach her child about that kind of thing? What if he hates me? What if he gets jealous and grows into some kind of giant dragon and tries to hurt Trixie? What if --

Rainbow Dash stops and puts a hoof over Twilight’s mouth. “I don’t know, Twi, but give him a little credit. I bet he’ll understand; after all, he’s got a thing for Rarity, right? If he got with her, you wouldn’t be mad, right?”

“Of course not! Well, once he was a little older, that is. It would be kind of weird, with him being so much younger, not to mention a completely different species, but if they both wanted it -- I would be happy for him.”

“Yeah! So -- I mean -- I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Without saying anything, Rainbow Dash starts out again, and with Twilight and I following.

As we cross the library in another awkward silence, I can hear Fluttershy talking outside. It may be kind of weird, but I actually find myself kind of liking her soft, quiet voice. “And I think that’s it,” she says with a little quaver, “D-do you have any questions?”

“No -- I guess that makes sense.” Spike says, his goofy voice a bit more subdued than usual.

As the three of us walk out the front door into the bright Ponyville morning, Fluttershy and Spike turn to face us. Fluttershy smiles nervously and blushes as her gaze roams among us. Spike looks at Twilight, then at me, then back at Twilight, then to the ground a few feet in front of us. “Oh, Spike!” Twilight says as she rushes to throw her forelegs around Spike’s neck, “I’m so sorry! I never meant to lock you out, I just got a little -- preoccupied. I’m so sorry; I’ve failed you as a caretaker, and a parent, and a friend, but I promise I won’t do it again! I’ll put you at the top of every checklist! I -- I love you, Spike. Can you forgive me?”

“Of course, Twilight.” Spike almost blubbers out as he returns the hug; it’s actually kind of adorable, in a childish way. “I mean -- I was more worried about you! I thought Trixie had done something to you…” He clears his throat and brushes one of his little shoulders off. “But -- y-yeah, don’t worry; we’re cool.” As he pulls back, he stares into Twilight’s face, then his eyes flick to me and back to the ground. “So, uh, I heard you and Trixie are together and -- like, getting intimate? Is she going to be living with us?”

“G-getting intimate?” Twilight sputters. She looks at me, her eyes bulging and cheeks pink. I shake my head; I guess even the inimitable Twilight Sparkle can be wrong about some things. A hint of anxiety colors her voice. “You heard? From whom?” Spike doesn’t say anything, but his eyes betray him as he looks to Fluttershy with a little grimace. Twilight follows his gaze and frowns at Fluttershy and sighs. “Well, I wanted to be the one to tell you, but if you and Fluttershy had a talk -- that’s fine. We can talk about it later,” she says with a rigid, almost creepy smile, first facing Fluttershy, then turning to Spike. She stands and turns back to Rainbow Dash and I. “Well,” she starts, encompassing us as well as Spike and Fluttershy with a sweep of the hoof, “Shall we head over to Sugarcube Corner?”

“Yeah! Come on!” Rainbow Dash jumps into the air and does some kind of flying trick, turning above us in a tight circle with a little roll. It’s not too bad; in fact, it’s almost cool. “So,” she says, looking at Twilight and slowly flapping backwards, “So, Is Trixie going to start living with you?” What!? Does she think Twilight owns me or something?

“We -- haven’t talked about the future yet. We’ve been busy with other things.” Twilight says with an admirable amount of mischief. She looks over at me with that little smile. “Well, would you consider settling down here, Trixie? I know that I would enjoy having you around.” She looks at the other two ponies. “What about you girls?”

Rainbow Dash turns away and shrugs, her forelegs crossed under her chest. “Eh, whatever.” What a harpy! It’s like she just can’t be nice. How is she Twilight’s friend!?

Fluttershy smiles at me before hiding her face behind her forelock. She raises a hoof and paws the air, almost like she’s beckoning me. In her quiet, halting voice, she says, “Well, wouldn’t it be -- nice -- to have a showpony in town? I-I mean -- I didn’t see your show, but I’ve heard it’s -- nice. And -- and if Twilight enjoys being with you, then -- I mean -- I think it would be a good thing -- as-as long as you don’t do anything to make me wear the dangerous mission outfit again...” Her voice tapers off; it’s like she’s scared of her own opinion. Dangerous mission outfit? Even with her weird mannerisms and her inability to assert herself and this -- dangerous mission outfit thing, she is a little charming. I wouldn’t mind having her as a fan.

“Hey, what am I, chopped liver!?” Everypony else turns with me when Spike cries out. “I have feelings about this too, y’know!”

Twilight grimaces, then smiles at Spike. Ugh. Having to take care of someone, especially a child; I feel for her. “I’m sorry, Spike. I want you to know that, despite my desire for Trixie to live with us, if you don’t feel comfortable with it, then she won’t; isn’t that right, Trixie?”

Hmph. Trixie has enough dignity that she would take the road over begging someone to take her in. “Of course not! If Trixie isn’t wanted, she doesn’t stay. After all, she has all Equestria at her hooves.”

Twilight gives me a little laugh and an excited smile. “So, what are your feelings on it, Spike?”

Apparently he’s following Rainbow Dash’s lead, crossing his arms and blowing his lips and putting on a snide tone. “I don’t know, Twilight. I’m not sure. I might not feel comfortable with her around. I mean, think about what happened the last time she was here, and -- and even just the past few days.”

“I know you’re uneasy about it, but at least give Trixie a chance. Please, Spike? She’s changed.” When the pesky little dragon mumbles a half-hearted agreement, Twilight spins around and stomp a hoof on the ground. “Alright, let’s head to Sugarcube Corner, everypony!”

“Yeah!” Rainbow Dash whoops, “Enough standing around! At least walk while you’re talking!”

Walking behind everypony else, I have some time to think. I guess I’m going to be staying here, at least for a little while, which isn’t too bad, and I guess I’m going to be seeing a lot more of Twilight’s friends, which I can handle, but I also guess I’m going to hear a lot more of that, which I’m already getting sick of, even from Twilight. She’s changed. From what? A Great and Powerful showpony into -- a nobody? Twilight Sparkle’s little pet? A whipping pony for all of these backwards Ponyville hayseeds? All I can do is sigh; at least there are cupcakes.